Sewer cleaning machine

ABSTRACT

A sewer cleaning machine having a driven cable drum and associated structure mounted for quick adjustment to permit removal and insertion of a cable drum by lateral rolling movement of a cable drum into and away from a mounting position in the frame of the sewer cleaning machine.

0 United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,747,153

ONeiII 1 Jul 24, 1973 SEWER CLEANING MACHINE 2,926,372 3/1960 O'Brien 15/1043 SN 3,007,186 11/1961 Olsson 15/1043 SN [75] Invent Charles 0 Mendma 3,246,354 4/1966 Cooney et al 15/1043 SN [7 3] Assignee: Conco lnc., Mendota, Ill.

Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts [22] Ffled' May 1972 AttorneyAxel A. Hofgren [21] App]. No.: 249,312

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl l5/l04.3 SN [51] Int. Cl B0811 9/02 A Sewer cleanmg machme hav'ng a dnven cable drum [58] Field of sun], 15/1043 R 1043 SN; and associated structure mounted for quick adjustment 242 4 to permit removal and insertion of a cable drum by latera] rolling movement of a cable drum into and away [56] References Cited from a mounting position in the frame of the sewer UNITED STATES PATENTS clemmg machme' 2,292,712 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 8/1942 O'Lcary 15/1043 SN SEWERCLEANING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional sewercleaning machine with a cable drum and cable associated therewith has substantial weight. This permits the machine to be stable during operation. The weight can exceed 150 pounds with a minimallength of cable, such as fifty feet. This weight is approximately equally divided between the frame weight and the weight of the cable drum and cable contained therein. This represents a substantial weight in transport of the machine andin lifting thereof as com monly required in travel between locations where cleaning operations are required. It is, therefore, desirable to separate the cable drum and cable from the frame whereby the frame can be handled separately. The sewer cleaning machine disclosed herein enables this separation to be performed simply, without lifting,

of the heavy cable drum and cable.

This invention pertainsto sewer cleaning machines and, more particularly, to such a machine having a' cable drum mounting a length of cable with the cable drum mounted and associated with operating structure thereforto permit easy insertion and removal of a cable drum without liftingtthereof and to reduce the over-all weight of the sewer cleaning machine for transport thereof.

Sewer cleaningmachines having removable cable drums are known inthe art, for example, as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,730,740, 3,048,870, 3,134,119, 3,162,878, 3,246,354-and3,298,051; however, such machines have hadcomplex frame structure or have required lifting of the. heavy cable drum. Applicant has provided a conventional-type sewer cleaning machine withmodifications thereto which enable simple adjustment of. structureassociated with thecabledrum to permit interchanging.movementofa cable drum by lateral rollingmovement ofthecable drum. The cable drum is rolled laterally of theframe of the machinein both insertionand removalthereof andsuitable guide means are PIOVIdCdvtO facilitate the movement.

SUMMARY A primary feature of this invention is toprovide a sewer cleaning machine enabling simple mounting and removal of a cable drum relative to the frame of the machine whichmay be accomplished/by simple adjustments of structureassociatedwith the cable drum and by simple rolling ofthe cable drum withoutany manual lifting of the cable drum.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved sewer cleaning; machine having a frame structure enabling;interchange of acable drum by rolling movement thereof laterally of'the frame.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a sewer cleaning machine havinga frame with upstanding front and rear sectionswith a shaft extendingforwardly from the rear section to receive the hub of a cable drum and the front section havinga cradle. open at a side and the top thereof whereby the cable drum may be rolled to and from a position laterally of the machine to align with the shaft and cradle and then operatively associated with the structure. of the machine for rotation of the cable drum.

Still. another object of the invention is to provide a sewer cleaning machinewith a frame havinga base and upstanding. spaced-apart front and rear'sections with the rear section mounting a forwardly-extending shaft for rotatably mounting the cable drum and adjustably mounting a drive unit for the cable drum which may easily be movedbetween a cable drum driving position and a position permitting removal of the cable drum and with the front section having a cradle to receive the distributor arm of the cable drum and having an open top and side for laterally receiving the distributor arm as the cable drum is rolled relative to the frame of the machine, a locking bar pivotally mounted to the cradle and of an L-shape to surround the distributor arm and lock it to the cradle, and guide structure on the frame base to align a cable drum in a position for rolling movement thereof into alignment with the shaft and the cradle as an initial step in mounting of a cable drum in the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the sewer cleaning machine with a cable drum mounted therein and with parts broken away and with a belt guard shown in an open, broken line position;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view and looking toward the right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is avertical section on an enlarged scale taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1 and showing the locking structure in a partially-open, broken line position;

FIG. 4 is a plan section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally alongthe line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective, elevational view of the frame and associated structure of the sewer cleaning machine shown positioned to rollingly receive a cable drum; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cable drum.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The-sewer cleaning machine is shown generally in FIGS. 1, land 5 and has a frame, indicated generally at 10, with a base 11 and upstanding front and rear framesections. 14 and 15, respectively. The frame mounts a pair of wheels 20-and 21 positioned to permit rolling movement of the machine when the frame is tilted slightly from the upright position shown but which permit firm mounting of the frame on an underlying surface for. use of the machine. The frame also mounts a pairof endless movable belts 22 and 23 which give a stair-climbing capability to the machine.

The frame and associated structure are arranged to mount a cable drum, indicated generally at 25, of a type generally disclosed in OBrien US Pat. No. 2,730,740, with the cable drum being formed of two relatively rotatable parts. An outer drum 26 surrounds an inner drum 27, with a distributor arm 28 for the cable extending out from the inner drum. A cable 29 extends out from the distributor arm 28 and has convolutions mounted within the cable drum and with an inner end of the cable secured to the outer drum 26. The cable drum 25 has a hub.3l with a bearing sleeve therein which rotatably mounts on a forwardlyextending shaft 30 fixedly mounted to the rear section 15 of the frame. In operative position, a pair of belts 35 extend around the periphry of the cable drum and engage with a drive pulley 36 on the output shaft of an electric motor drive unit 37 whereby energization of the. motor causes driving and rotation of the cable drum.

The outer end of the distributor arm 28 mounts an adjustable bearing assembly 40 and a set collar assembly 41 which are positioned in cradle means mounted at the top of the front section 14 of the frame. This cradle means includes a body 42 which is open at the top and at one side and with an upwardly-open curved recess 43 shaped to the contour of the adjustable bearing assembly 40. An upstanding side 44 of the cradle means pivotally mounts a locking bar 45 at the upper end thereof by a pivot connection including a pivot pin 450. The locking bar 45 is generally of an L-shape to have a first part 45a thereof overlie the distributor arm 28 and have a terminal part 45b extend downwardly and enclose the distributor arm, as shown in FIG. 3. The terminal end 45b is bifurcated, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, whereby a swing bolt 46 may extend upwardly between the parts thereof from a pivotal mounting pin 47 and position an internally-threaded handle 48 above the part 45a of the locking bar. The handle 48 is tightened against said part 45a and fixes the locking bar 45 in the closed position shown in full line in FIG. 3.

The inner face of the part 450 of the locking bar carries a pin 50 engageable in a groove 51 (FIG. 6) of the distributor arm structure to prevent movement thereof longitudinally of the cradle means 42. The locking bar 45 and swing bolt 46 are shown in partiallyopen positions in broken line in FIG. 3.

A handle device indicated, generally at 60, extends upwardly from the rear section of the frame for guiding the sewer cleaning machine. A pair of downwardly-extending rods 61 and 62 fit into guide openings 63 and 64, respectively, of the rear section 15 of the frame and are held in adjusted position by a pair of threaded adjustable members 65. A movable platform 70 has a pair of openings to loosely receive the handle rods 61 and 62 and has a depending cylindrical mounting rod 71 mounted in a guide sleeve 72 of the rear section of the frame whereby the platform 70 can be positioned at different elevations by movement of the rod 71 within the sleeve 72. The platform and rod are held in position by a tangent lock, indicated generally at 75 in FIG. 4, and having a pair of members 76 and 77 movable toward and away from each other and engageable with the rod 71 by means of a threaded bolt 78 having a handle 79. Rotation of the handle 79 provides for quick release or tightening of the members 76 and 77 on the mounting rod 71 to control the platform position.

The platform 70 mounts the electric motor drive unit 37 and the drive pulley 36 whereby the platform in an upper position has the drive belts 35 taut about the cable drum 25 for operation. The platform in lowered position slackens the belts to permit their removal from the drum for drum removal.

A bracket 80 on the drive unit 37 mounts a belt guard 81 for pivotal movement between the guarding position, shown in full line in FIG. 1, and the remote position,.shown in broken line in FIGS. 1 and 5. The belt guard is held in guarding position by a pair of threaded members and wing nuts 82 which engage in slots 83 in the belt guard.

' The upward movement of the platform 70 is limited by a bolt 85 extending downwardly from the platform and having a threaded lower end carrying a stop nut 86 which is engageable with the rear section 15 of the frame on lifting of the platform 70 to an upper limit position which is adjustably determined by the setting of the stop nut 86.

The base 11 of the machine frame is provided with means for assisting in insertion and removal of a cable drum 25. Guide means for aligning a cable drum in position for rolling entry into the machine laterally thereof includes a pair of spaced-apart upwardly extending lugs 100 and 101 having a space therebetween slightly larger than the thickness of the cylindrical part of the cable drum. This assures that the cable drum will not contact the shaft 30 during lateral rolling movement thereof. Additionally, a stop surface 102 limits movement of a cable drum 25 forwardly of the machine upon initial withdrawal of a cable drum from the mounting shaft 30.

In use of the machine, the motor drive unit 37 drives the belts 35 to rotate the cable drum 25 and cause rotation of the cable 29. The cable 29 can be fed out of the machine manually or a suitable attachment placed on the machine to provide for automatic cable feed.

When a cable drum is to be removed from the machine, the belt guard 81 is lifted to the broken line position, shown in FIG. 1, and the tangent lock handle 79 operated to loosen the tangent lock. The platform is lowered to slacken the drive belts 35 sufficiently whereby they may be moved rearwardly beyond the periphery of the cable drum. The platform 70 is then raised to the highest limit allowed by bolt and secured in an out-of-the-way position with tangent lock 75. The swing bolt 46 is then freed by rotation of the handle 48 and pivoted in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 3 and the locking bar 45 is lifted in the direction shown in FIG. 3 to free the distributor arm 28 of the cable drum. The cable drum 25 is then moved forwardly, or to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, to free the hub 31 from the shaft 30, with this movement limited by engagement with the frame stop 102. This movement can be done manually by pushing the drum or by tipping the machine. The cable drum positioned against the stop 102 is then aligned with the guide means in the form of lugs and 101 and the operator can roll the cable drum out of the machine with the structure at the end of the distributor arm 28 being free to move out the open side of the cradle means 42.

For insertion of a cable drum, the machine parts are positioned as shown in FIG. 5 and the cable drum is placed on its side in alignment with the lugs 100 and 101 of the guide means and rolled into the machine to a position with the distributor arm resting in the cradle means 42 and the cable drum hub 31 aligned with the shaft 30. The machine is-then tilted to cause the hub of the cable drum to move onto the shaft 30 and the locking bar 45 is then brought into position and locked. The belts 35 are placed about the periphery of the cable drum 26 and the platform 70 lifted to tighted the belts. The platform is locked in position by tightening of the tangent lock 75 and the belt guard 81 brought back to guard position and locked by tightening of the wing nuts 82 and the machine is then ready for operation.

I claim:

1. A sewer cleaning machine having a rotatable cable drum with provision for quick interchange of cable drums comprising, a frame with a base and spacedapart upstanding front and rear sections, shaft means on said rear section for rotatably mounting the cable drum, cradle means on said front section for receiving a distributor arm extending from the cable drum, a

movable locking bar associated with said cradle means to hold the distributor arm locked in position, said cradle means being open at the top and one side and said base being shaped whereby a cable drum may be rolled laterally of the machine to and from a position of alignment with said cradle means and said shaft means.

2. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said base has guide means thereon for aligning a cable drum in a position preparatory to rolling thereof which assures clearance of the drum with respect to said shaft means.

3. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said cable drum is belt driven, and belt drive means including a platform, a mounting rod for said platform movably guided in said frame rear section, a quick-acting tangent lock carried by said frame and coacting with said mounting rod, and a motor and drive pulley on said platform whereby said platform may be moved between belt slack and belt tight positions as part of the cable drum change operation.

4. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said platform has means extended therefrom and engageable with the frame rear section to prevent removal of the mounting rod from said frame rear section.

- 5. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 3 including a belt guard pivotally connected to said platform, and clamp means on said platform for holding said belt guard in operative position overlying said drive pulley.

6. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking bar is pivoted at the top and at one side of said cradle means and is generally -L-shaped to extend over said cradle means andclose off the open side thereof, and a swing bolt connected to said cradle means for holding said locking bar in closed position relative to said cradle means.

7. A sewer cleaning machine having a frame with a base and upstanding spaced-apart front and rear sections, a mounting shaft projecting forwardly from said rear section, a cable drum having a hub mounted on said shaft and with a distributor arm extending forwardly therefrom, said front and rear frame sections being spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit location of a cable drum at a position therebetween with said hub aligned with but remote from said shaft whereby the cable drum is movable axially of the shaft for mounting thereon, and means on said frame front section to rollingly receive an end of the distributor arm as a cable drum is moved laterally of the frame into said position. v 1

8. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said base has a guide means to align a cable drum with the frame before moving the cable drum laterally to said position.

9. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said means on the front section comprises a cradle having an open top and one open side, and an L-shaped locking bar pivoted thereto and in a closed position overlying said distributor arm and holding the distributor arm in association with the cradle.

10. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 9 including a stop on said frame located to engage a cable drum removed from said shaft and align the cable drum with said guide means prior to laterally rolling a cable drum laterally out of the machine. 

1. A sewer cleaning machine having a rotatable cable drum with provision for quick interchange of cable drums comprising, a frame with a base and spaced-apart upstanding front and rear sections, shaft means on said rear section for rotatably mounting the cable drum, cradle means on said front section for receiving a distributor arm extending from the cable drum, a movable locking bar associated with said cradle means to hold the distributor arm locked in position, said cradle means being open at the top and one side and said base being shaped whereby a cable drum may be rolled laterally of the machine to and from a position of alignment with said cradle means and said shaft means.
 2. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said base has guide means thereon for aligning a cable drum in a position preparatory to rolling thereof which assures clearance of the drum with respect to said shaft means.
 3. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said cable drum is belt driven, and belt drive means including a platform, a mounting rod for said platform movably guided in said frame rear section, a quick-acting tangent lock carried by said frame and coacting with said mounting rod, and a motor and drive pulley on said platform whereby said platform may be moved between belt slack and belt tight positions as part of the cable drum change operation.
 4. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said platform has means extended therefrom and engageable with the frame rear section to prevent removal of the mounting rod from said frame rear section.
 5. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 3 including a belt guard pivotally connected to said platform, and clamp means on said platform for holding said belt guard in operative position overlying said drive pulley.
 6. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking bar is pivoted at the top and at one side of said cradle means and is generally L-shaped to extend over said cradle means and close off the open side thereof, and a swing bolt connected to said cradle means for holding said locking bar in closed position relative to said cradle means.
 7. A sewer cleAning machine having a frame with a base and upstanding spaced-apart front and rear sections, a mounting shaft projecting forwardly from said rear section, a cable drum having a hub mounted on said shaft and with a distributor arm extending forwardly therefrom, said front and rear frame sections being spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit location of a cable drum at a position therebetween with said hub aligned with but remote from said shaft whereby the cable drum is movable axially of the shaft for mounting thereon, and means on said frame front section to rollingly receive an end of the distributor arm as a cable drum is moved laterally of the frame into said position.
 8. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said base has a guide means to align a cable drum with the frame before moving the cable drum laterally to said position.
 9. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said means on the front section comprises a cradle having an open top and one open side, and an L-shaped locking bar pivoted thereto and in a closed position overlying said distributor arm and holding the distributor arm in association with the cradle.
 10. A sewer cleaning machine as defined in claim 9 including a stop on said frame located to engage a cable drum removed from said shaft and align the cable drum with said guide means prior to laterally rolling a cable drum laterally out of the machine. 